Russell King claims to have received "extensive ongoing requests from members of the board asking for assistance" in selling Liverpool. King was the consultant who brought the "consortium of Middle Eastern and European investors" – and Sven-Goran Eriksson – to Notts County last year, and whose involvement caused the Football League not to pass the takeover as fit and proper.

Soon afterwards the entire club went into crisis, nearly collapsing under the £6m debt it ran up in little more than six months. Digger can reveal that King had previously been involved in Liverpool's search for investment from Dubai in 2006. He says he was asked to attend a meeting with a director of a company belonging to Sheikh Mohammed, the emir of Dubai. Subsequently, and in continuation of that meeting, King claims, the Liverpool board then pursued the aborted deal with Dubai International Capital.

Others familiar with the situation say Liverpool board members travelled out to meet him in Dubai in 2006 and that it quickly became clear he could not fulfil the promise of an introduction to the sheikh, whereupon they broke off contact. Now, claims King, the current board has been in touch. He said: "The board in no way broke contact and there are extensive ongoing requests from members of the board asking for assistance."

The board declined to comment last night but an insider in the sale process stressed King has no official involvement. However, given the increasing desperation of the situation, Digger would not put it past someone getting in touch to ask for help.

Yeovil vote of confidence

The Yeovil Town Football Club customer charter states under its section on consultation and information: "The club has and will continue to develop ways of consulting with shareholders, sponsors, season-ticket holders and other interested parties."

Unfortunately, Digger has been unable to benefit from those developments, with repeated requests for dialogue with the chairman, John Fry, about the separation of its property assets from the football operation having fallen on deaf ears.

However, reassurance for Yeovil fans about that reorganisation comes from Andrew Lindsay, of Denison Till, the consultant on the transaction. Lindsay states that he has known a few "rum directors" in football in the past – haven't we all – but that Fry and his Yeovil co-owner, Norman Hayward, do not fall in that category.

"These guys only want a better stadium and better facilities for Yeovil," he said. "They're potty for the club and want it to do well." Which is to be hoped. Digger only wishes the deal could have been structured with Yeovil Town retaining the shares in the new arm's-length company and not Fry and Hayward themselves.

Sky defends banner

Sky Sports has been forced to explain its actions in superimposing an image of Roy Hodgson, right, on an iconic banner featuring the silhouettes of Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Kenny Dalglish and Rafael Benítez.

There were complaints from fans who considered the addition of the former Fulham manager to that company to have been disrespectful to the terrace artist behind the "Success has many fathers" banner and to its subjects.

But Sky emailed complainants in an effort to make clear that the feature that included the image was intended as a tribute to the club's great history.

Sky told Digger: "We believe the piece was supportive of the club, its past managers, its traditions, and its future. And we hope that when viewed in context this, and the creative use of the banner, is clear."

Producers are likely to go easy on the symbolism next time.

Elite push tax break

Tax advisers to some of the world's top sport stars are in talks with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport seeking reform of the tax system that has prompted athletes such as Usain Bolt not to come to the UK to compete at events. Pete Hackleton, of RSM Tenon, says DCMS has been "very helpful". Digger does not doubt it. But Bolt should not expect Danny Alexander and George Osborne at the Treasury to share its view.